France stands ready to assist Tonga

France says they stand ready to meet the Tongan people’s most pressing needs through the FRANZ mechanism for the regional coordination of humanitarian assistance in the event of natural disasters in the Pacific.

They say all possible measures are being taken and coordinated by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Center to deploy reconnaissance flights operated by the New Caledonian Armed Forces.

This is to gather information and aerial views of disaster zones, obtain satellite images of the impacted areas, with support from the Airbus Foundation, and deliver drinking water and food from New Caledonia to affected communities.

It further says consultations are under way with Tonga’s authorities for this purpose.

Items such as tents, tarpaulin and tool kits, among other items from the emergency stock in Nouméa in partnership with the Red Cross can be mobilized, as well as a water purification unit with a 250,000 liter/day capacity.